Sizzla says good fathers deserve more recognition

It was supposed to be a 16-minute address in which he spoke to the gathering of well-dressed guests about what it means to be a father and the roles and responsibilities that came with that honour. 

But what guests got instead was a live concert, as Sizzla showed up and showed out at the fifth staging of the Eternal Father Awards ceremony held on Sunday at the Audi Showroom along Oxford Road. When Sizzla took the stage, it seemed it would have been a continuation of speeches and accolades celebrating Jamaican men nominated for various prestigious prizes, including the coveted Father of the Year Award. However, shortly into his address, Sizzla, whose given name is Miguel Collins, decided that he could show them better than he could tell them, and the musical strains of Rise to the Occasion rang out in the showroom. Immediately, half of the audience members were on their feet with their phones out to record the moment for posterity. 

Solid as a Rock and Woman I Need You had the men skanking, while the women in evening gowns discarded their stilettos to dance barefoot as Sizzla went all out in his performance. Give Me a Try was followed by Holding Firm, but it was when he unexpectedly drew for Thank U Mamma, which celebrates mothers, that the crowd erupted with shouts, ‘bussing blanks’ and even Dutch pot covers banging. Sizzla went on to say that it takes both genders to create good parents, so he could not forget the importance of women. 

Afterwards, THE STAR caught up with the Praise Ye Jah artiste to inquire about why it was important for him to be at the event, and how he celebrated Father’s Day. 

 “It’s an absolute honour to be here. I want to thank the organisers for believing that this recognition made sense, as many fathers go through turmoil, and this is what we need to get people out of their slumber and just celebrate and elevate them. Oftentimes, good fathers are neglected or pushed to the side. Sometimes they just need a little push in life and some close family members to just help out or to keep the words of encouragement out there,” he opined. 

Sizzla, who is a father, said that he spent his Father’s Day with his children, ages 25 and younger, who all made him feel special. 

“It was a very good day for me as they showered me with kisses, hugs and gifts. I got clothes, liquor and jewellery and a lot more stuff,” he said. He reasoned that being a father means that the responsibility of keeping the family together rests upon his shoulders. 

“But if I’m kind, humble and steadfast, I can surmount [to] the many challenges I will face. So that’s what I try to do. I am the person they can count on in good and bad times and the person who will instill in them the morals and values that will get them through life,” he said.